News Perspectives

Healthy Habits Urged to Help Prevent Dementia

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

A healthy lifestyle may help to prevent dementia as well as problems such as heart disease and diabetes, a new report says. The report comes from Alzheimer's Disease International. It is being issued in advance of World Alzheimer's Day, September 21. The report focuses on factors related to dementia risk that people can control. The main message: "What is good for your heart is good for your brain." Some of the strongest links between health conditions and dementia include high blood pressure in middle age and smoking and diabetes at any age. For example, diabetes may increase the risk of dementia 50%, the report says. Quitting smoking lowers risk. The report's authors reviewed research on smoking and dementia. They found that ex-smokers have a dementia risk similar to those who have never smoked.

To continue reading this article you must be registered.

Get Licensed Content to Harvard Health

If you are interested in licensing content from Harvard Health Publications, please contact us using our online form. Our licensing and business development professionals will help you leverage consumer health content from Harvard Medical School as a clear differentiator in helping achieve your business goals.

Customer Log In

If you are located in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway (the "European Economic Area"), please click here for additional information about ways that certain Harvard University Schools, Centers, units and controlled entities, including this one, may collect, use, and share information about you.